The crowd’s positive energy filled the Panzer Athletic Center as the Montclair State Women’s basketball team won their third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference championship, beating the Stockton Ospreys 59-42 this weekend. This game brought the Red Hawk’s winning streak to 12 games while they clinched their championship title. Montclair State is now the first team to win three straight conference titles since Rowan University won their fourth title in 1999.

The first two minutes of the game were close as the score was tied three times while the Ospreys and Red Hawks shot basket after basket. However, the Red Hawks were quick to score six straight points to earn the lead, leaving the score at 33-18 at the end of the first period.

The Ospreys tried to catch up in the second period, earning a six point run that brought the score to 44-34 with nearly seven minutes left. The Red Hawks kept their lead as forward guard Melissa Tobie and senior guard Jaritza Aquino shot three pointers that helped bring the score to 59-42, giving the Red Hawks the big win. Players, families, and friends celebrated as the Red Hawks cut down the championship net and received their trophy and t-shirts.

This championship title gives the Red Hawks an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Red Hawks will play the first round of the NCAA championship on Friday, March 6 against Regis College from Massachusetts at the Panzer Athletic Center on Montclair State’s campus.

Catherine is a senior double major in Journalism and Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations. She is currently the editor-in-chief of The Montclarion as well as the News Editor for the Montclair Dispatch. Catherine plans on continuing studying communications in graduate school.